CVE-2002-0850 in Corporate Desktop
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in PGP Corporate Desktop 7.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via an encrypted document that has a long filename when it is decrypted.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-0850 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within PGP Corporate Desktop version 7.1.1 that exposes systems to remote code execution attacks. This security weakness specifically manifests during the decryption process of encrypted documents containing excessively long filenames, creating a scenario where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability resides in the software's handling of filename data during cryptographic operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows maliciously crafted encrypted files to trigger memory corruption. The affected system architecture processes encrypted documents through a decryption routine that fails to validate the length of filenames before storing them in fixed-size buffers, enabling attackers to exploit this gap in input validation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability follows a classic buffer overflow pattern that aligns with CWE-121, which describes unsafe buffer access in heap-based memory allocations. When PGP Corporate Desktop processes an encrypted document with an oversized filename, the application attempts to store this data in a predetermined memory buffer without proper length verification. This flaw allows attackers to craft specially formatted encrypted files containing filenames that exceed the allocated buffer capacity, causing the program to overwrite adjacent memory locations including return addresses and control data. The overflow can potentially be leveraged to redirect program execution flow, enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application process. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, which addresses out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption and privilege escalation.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on PGP Corporate Desktop for email encryption and document security. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw by simply sending maliciously crafted encrypted emails containing oversized filenames to targeted users, requiring no special privileges or local access. The attack vector operates entirely through network communication, making it particularly dangerous for corporate environments where email remains a primary communication channel. Successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network infrastructure. Organizations using this specific version of PGP Corporate Desktop face immediate security risks, as the vulnerability can be triggered automatically during routine decryption operations without user interaction beyond receiving the malicious email. The impact extends beyond individual system compromise to potentially affect entire corporate networks if attackers establish persistent access through this initial foothold.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2002-0850 should prioritize immediate software updates to patched versions of PGP Corporate Desktop, as vendors typically address such vulnerabilities through security patches that implement proper input validation and buffer size enforcement. System administrators should disable automatic decryption of untrusted encrypted documents and implement strict email filtering policies to prevent potentially malicious encrypted attachments from reaching end users. Network-based intrusion detection systems can be configured to monitor for suspicious encrypted file patterns and oversized filename characteristics that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of potentially vulnerable software versions and establish network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The remediation process should also include comprehensive security awareness training for users to recognize potentially malicious encrypted email attachments and report suspicious communications. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving remote code execution and privilege escalation, with potential implications for initial access and persistence phases of the attack lifecycle, making early detection and remediation critical for maintaining organizational security posture.